Carl Jensen

Carl Jensen, 95, passed away in Delta Utah on May 25th at the home of his daughter, Maxine Oakeson. Carl was born April 9, 1918 in the District of Layton, Graham Co., AZ. He was the first of ten children born to Samuel & Minnie Ray Carnes Jensen. His early years were spent in the Safford valley where he attended school through the 11th grade. As a teenager, he helped his father in the family sheet-metal & plumbing business. When his dad was injured and couldnt work, Carl joined the CCC and earned $30.00 per month which helped the family during this hard time. Carl worked for the CCC for over a year, after which he returned to school for his final year. In 1936, he married Ella Lenor Peterson. Two children were born to this union; Carl J. & Maxine Jensen. Ella & Carl later divorced. Carl continued to work with his father. Sometimes the work took them to Old Mexico. In 1943 he joined the Construction Battalion in the Navy. Following training we was stationed at the ship repair base in San Diego for 3 years. Three of Sam & Minnies sons, including Carl, served during WWII. In 1946 Carl married Audrey Helene Latimer and her daughters Kitty & Gracie Weber joined the family. They lived first in California, then Safford, and again in California. Audrey passed away in August 1972. On November 18, 1972 Carl & Georgina Georgie Edith Robson were married in Las Vegas, NV., and Georgie added her four children to the gang; Bruce Tuthill, Janet Groff, Jaqualine Rowe & Patricia Leibich. Carl & Georgie were sealed in the Mesa, AZ temple in 1978. When Carl retired after 30 years of service in the Buena Park office of AT&T/Pacific Bell, he and Georgie moved back to Safford where they made their home next door to Carls widowed mother. His continued service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought them many and varied experiences. Carl served in the Stake Missionary Presidency and their home was a hub of activity as they fed, entertained, and transported most of the missionaries serving in the Tucson Arizona Mission. They had hundreds of photos of these young & senior missionaries. There are many facets to Carls personality: he loved learning, socializing, family time. He enjoyed singing (he could yodel), hunting, family time, took flying lessons, had copious books, magazines and cameras. During the last few years of his life he was hampered by very limited vision so he couldnt see and Georgie couldnt hear, but together they made a good team. When Georgie passed away in 2009, Amy and Joe Cueto and family took outstanding care of him and this made it possible for him to stay in his own home by himself for the next three years. In July of 2012, it became necessary for Carl to have fulltime care so he was admitted to Sunset Hills. In October of 2012, Maxine moved him to the care center in Delta, UT. She brought him to her home the last week of his life. He never critized his caregivers and always thanked them when they assisted him. Carl is survived by his children; Carl J. (Carrol) of Tucson, Maxine Oakeson of Utah, Kitty (Ross) Mersman, and Gracie (Bill) Watt of Arkansas, Bruce (Chris) Tuthill of Oklahoma, Janet (Stan) Groff of Texas, Jaqualine Rowe of Prescott Valley, Patricia Leibich of Duncan, 24 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren, brothers Gordon (Marva) Jensen of Payson, Samuel C. Jensen of Phoenix, sister Karen (Harold) Romero of Alabama, multiple nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Solomon with Interment in the Graham Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.